Automatic vent valve



March 23, 1954 v H, 'G. HENCKEN 2,672,878

AUTOMATIC VENT VALVE Filed Jan. 17, 1952 Patented Mar. 23, 1954 UNI TED ES PATENT OFFICE V AUTOMATIC VENT VALVE Harold- G. Hencken, Greenwich, Conn, assignortoiTaco Heaters, Incorporatetb Brovidence,.-R. -I., a corporation of New York Application Januaryi17, 1952, Serial 'No. 266.963

This invention relates to an automaticallypp- .erating vent valve arrangement ;for use ,in a heating system, .particularly.-a:steam heating sys .tem orjsimilar arrangement, wherein it is neces- .sary-lto venttair-or gas tromsa space and yet-prevent the escape of liquid @or vapor.

.{Ina heating system "having radiators. such as in well-known domestic arrangements,- it is necessary to ventair or othengases-therefrom so .thatthe :heating medium-or vapor inl-the radiator orheat exchangencancompletely fill the'radiator. In ,the 13358 -:-of steam heating systems, the .boiler when activated or steaming will furnish steam to the various radiators, and in. order .for' steam to filleach radiator, ,itaisrequired that air be vented from each. If this aistnot done, the steam ,will 1 not -.be able to :fill the radiator concerned and asa result theradiator will not function properly. When the boiler :is turned on and asthe system .cools, the condensing of steam will. produce ;a vacuum and it is necessary @that .the ,various vent valves be opened. This becomes a difiicult problem ..-in some instances .because it .is necessary to. :break said vacuum in a radiator. Various 'types -:of mechanically ,operated valves have been employed previously ,for venting-air but 11101118 of these have been entirely satisfactory partly because they are complicated, do not operate consistently, :are not reliable, and in some instances are :noisy. Also, some. of themechanicall-yoperated valves '-move between entirely closed and entirely open ;posi- .tions, there being-no. intermediate positions or .-graduated .operation. Many operate to close .when a predetermined minimum temperature is reached without regardcto whether thevfluidmeing vented-is air .or steam so that wet :steamror droplets a of. water maybe ventedzundesirably.

-.One of the "objects of the presentinvention is to provide- -an --improv.ed automatic vent "valve which "will Event air but; which '?Wi11-.';prevent :the -passage ofsteam, water or liquid therefrom.

Another object of thewinvention ;is :to provide :a "vent particularly suitable. for use a steam heating system which will "vent air trom the .--radiators, :willprevent escape of steam or. water, and willropenrpromptly as theiboiler-icools.

'llriurtherobject otithezinventionis:tozincrease .themsensitivity operation :of. an ..autcnrzaticall3 snneratingvent :valve.

.=In .one aspect .of ztheainvention, .-.the valve body can have a main outlet passage witha-za :cavity therein, the cavityhaving. :opposed restraining -walls,=-with an: i11letgpassage5leading into-eoneaof restraining: walls, and iEI'l-BHXIHQPW outlet ,2 passage :in :the opposite restraining :wall.v :Main outlet :apertures can be connected .to :or formed in the :side walls of said cavity. .A fibrous'body or a..'swellable or :distenclable body is located in :or across-the main :outlet "cavity, the body being one which will swell between. said opposed- :or restraining-walls when vwet with water :or con- .densed-steamand which will close off the flow :path between the inlet :passageand the :main outlet .apertures. The auxiliary :passagealso .controlled by said .body :and :serves to a'assistyin "opening the valve as the bodystartsttoflry.

The .fibrous body preferably is :formed set :a :plurality of "wafers or :elementsiwith .a central aperture .therethrough, the auxiliary passage bein'g'in'the restraining wall ofthe cavity :opposite: the:inlet :passage, .theauxiliary vpassagelzaeing located between 'said central aperture randtlre rBXtBIiOl .walls of the :fibrous zbody. Preferably, thempassageis annular-in shape. lSWllillgiOf the fibrous body will cause the surface :thereof :ad- :jacent the restraining wallhaving ithezauxili'ary passage to close said :auxiliary passage. The air being vented may :pass'through and between "said fiwafers, and it also may pass :between the .restraining wall of the cavity opposite :the iinlet passage and "the wafer 'surfacead'jacent thereto. where :may ber-metallic wafers'betwe'en the fibrous wafers to assist in the "drying :or opening thereof. When. the boiler isactivated sand the :valveiis opensdue to the fibrous body being "in aventing -conditi'on,.ai-r or "substantially idrygas from the radiator will be evented principally :through :the main outlet-apertureuntil-steamaor liquidrrea'ches the-fibrous bod-y. At-this time, the :fibrous :body will swell and :cut-"ofi flow through the :nutlet "to the outlet apertures and :also to :the auxiliary outlet passage. When the boiler is .stopped,:the condensing steamin theradiatortwi'll :result inaaavacuum :or decrease inrpressure thererinJ .Th'efibrous body will start to :dry :an'dxit can-rbe theorized that the auxiliary @passagewill :open first, which :will permit room 101' :am'bient air to 'pass bytherfibrous body into the radiator and accelerate drying ofthe fibrous :bo'dy soars to thereafter .open thepassa'ge to the :main :outlet apertures. :It maybe thataatmosphericipres- :sure 1actir1'g against .a transverse itace. of the fibrous :body "will pompressfiit lbm'gituiiinallysso ifllS to :assist in the opening. This "isill contrast with atmospheric :pressureibeing exerted {0171 "the :exterior' longitudinal walls of the ibody wliich 'zwill znotxtendsto-open .thesame.

The fibrous body"preferably should ibermade offibers-wh-ich will swell :-a major amount" when unconfined when the body is wet with water or the like. In addition, the swelling should be reasonably fast so that when the fibrous body is confronted with steam or condensed steam, it will swell sufiiciently fast so as to close the passage between the inlet passage and both the auxiliary passage and the outlet passage.

The fiber may be composed, for example, of a cotton cellulose fiber which has not been treated so as to reduce the swelling characteristics, such as by vulcanizing. It has been found that a wood fiber tends to oxidize at the higher temperatures involved in a steam radiator, as compared with a hot water system, so that the wood fiber deteriorates more rapidly than a cotton cellulose body. The body and fibers preferably can be selected so that the dry fibers have at least a predetermined real volume in relation to the active or actual space occupied by the fibrous body itself and to have a predetermined swell rate when unconfined. The term active space means the actual space occupied by the fibrous body or plurality of members constituting the fibrous body after they are once wet by the steam, condensed steam, or liquid. Swell rate can be defined as the percentage increase in thickness of the normally dry fibrous body per specified unit of time. The fibrous body should be chosen so that when it swells under unrestrained conditions, the swelled body will more than fill the space between the opposite walls of the cavity which it occupies.

The fibrous body, when it is relatively dry, may have intercommunicating pores therethrough which will be squeezed closed when the body is confined between the opposite restraining walls of the cavity. When the fibrous body is exposed to steam or condensed steam, the fibrous body normally pervious to air will become impervious to passage of water upon becoming wet. The fibers may be substantially randomly oriented in substantially parallel layers.

In a preferred aspect, the restraining wall of the cavity opposite the inlet passage therein has a closing member defining an auxiliary passage lying between the central aperture of a fibrous body in said cavity and the exterior longitudinally extending walls thereof, said passage being closable by the fibrous body. The transverse outside walls of said fibrous body are contactable with said restraining walls of the cavity. The closing member may be Screw-threadedly engaged in the valve body or a bushing in the mouth thereof, the screwthreads being relatively loose so as to form a passage from the cavity to the exterior. This passage thus is seen to be restricted. The closing .member is retractable relative to said cavity wall so as to provide a recess. When the fibrous body expands, the portion thereof adjacent the central aperture will bend up into said recess. These fibers will be resilient so that upon initial drying or release of pressure, the will spring downward and thus open the auxiliary passage. The recess depth is adjustable so that the sensitivity of the operation can be made that required. As the recess is increased, the sensitivity or quickness of opening normally is increased because the atmospheric pressure acting on the distorted resilient fibers tend to open the auxiliary passage more rapidly than when the top of the fibrous body is substantially fiat. During venting, more time is required for the fibers to swell into the recess and thus the closing or sealing is delayed with increase of recess depth. The adjustable or closing member can be adjusted to make the opening quicker and closing slower or can be set so as to slow the opening and speed the closing. This permits adjustment of the valve according to varying pressures in the dilferent radiators and moisture conditions in each. The closing member can be completely removed for draining or manual venting purposes.

One of the main advantages of the invention described herein is that the valve will permit air to be vented but will not allow the escape of steam. It is arranged in relation to the auxiliary passage so that the drying out 01 opening of the vent will be accelerated or made possible. The arrangement also is such that it can be adjusted and will properly operate.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings which are merely exemplary.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a sectional view of one form of the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a slightly modified form of construction of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary View of the arrangement in Figure 1 of Figure 2 showing the adjustable closure member backed-off a slight amount, illustrating the bending of the fibers in the fibrous body adjacent the auxiliary passage.

Figure l is an enlarged fragmentary view of Figure 3 showing the closure member adjusted so that it is flat in relation to the restraining wall of the outlet cavity opposite to the inlet passage.

Figure 5 is a side view of an alternative form of closing member.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-45 of Fig. 5.

Valve body In may be made of metal such as brass or any suitable material, the valve body having an outlet passage including main outlet apertures H and outlet passage cavity or chamber l2. The inlet passage I3 connects with the outlet or fibrous body cavity l2, screw-threaded portion [4 of the valve body ll! being insertable into the radiator to be controlled or portion of the system to be vented. Fibrous body retaining bushing I5 is engageable screw-threadedly with the mouth of valve body Ill, the fibrous body l9 being insertable through the mouth of the valve body before the bushing is put in place.

The bushing is interiorly threaded at lfiA for relatively loosely receiving the closing or adjusting plug or member ll, the space between the interior aperture of the bushing I5 and the closure member I! forming an auxiliary passage having an opening i5 into the cavity l2 for venting air from the outlet cavity. Preferably, the tips of the threads on plug ll are removed as illustrated in Fig. 4 to provide a larger passage than is available in a standard thread. The amount removed can be in the range of .005 inch of diameter per side. Merely by way of example, in a standard inch diameter 28 threads per inch screw thread, the rod used for the screw portion can be reduced prior to thread cutting to 0.235 inch from the standard diameter of approximately 0.248 inch. or course, the clearance can be made greater if desired or an auxiliary port connected to the auxiliary passage to augment the venting path, the path being closable by the fibrous body when wet. The fit should be such as to provide for the passage of air to and from the radiator.

One example of an auxiliary port is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 wherein a closing member 34 corresponding toll or 28 of Fig. 1 or 2 can have 5. sentiment then-s in or tne threads. 'Ihei slot is iclosedi 'ofi :by-"the fibrous ibody together. with Ether lopening lfi'. In the form shown in Figs. '5 Bm'd QithB post has beenomitted J. and such can be .done especially "where :a .imoistvradiaton condition exists.

Asian example soft the characteristics of: .a fibrons body which will. operate, "the" wafers used canzhave .anzapparent .densitypf between-9.380 and:l1;40 and anlzinitia'l: swell. rate. fortjthe'first minute of more than- %wihen exposed "to'water with the body unrestrained. In a preferred-fibrousabody, thB'll-litlfiil'ISWBll rate 12.0% :for.=.the first minute and it "will .swell' 7.0% in :5 .rminute's. Llflherfiber preferably .iSf flIfCOttOH'iCEH-UIOSE -afiber -01 mrimary alpha cellulose .fiber, =thez fibers being substantially randomly :orientedfin substantially parallel ilayers. "I hezrswell rate is not necessarily aistra-ight, :line relationship :but' should be "relatimely-rapid or :quick during the first minute.

"Theoretically,theifibrous body will absorb only enough: liquid to create a-sufiicient :pressure to prevent; further passage of water therein. Thus, within practical limits, the-valve will. shut-:ofi ,re-

gard-less of the pressure existingein the radiator.

After the-body-has absorbed sufficient. liquid-to close off, liquid :may evaporate from the surfaces thereof, .but this will be replaced.

.Ilhezrealvolume .oi the fibers-of the bodyis-hould baacertain-predetermined volume of the active space of the fibrous body. It hasbeen -found, for example, thatif the realwolume is at least 50% of-ithe active space, that the valve will close oil properly :and' prevent the flow of steam to the outside "of the radiator.

As mentioned, it-will be apparent that air can passxthrough the space ZB-between post it and the central apertures 19A, through the fibrous body, between the wafers andbe'tween the cavity wall opposite the inlet passage to themain outlet-apertures |:l.. Air also.can. ass through the auxiliary passageway 16 when the valve .is .open.

I-f--.the closing member H is adjusted so that its face 2| is substantially flush with the inner faceiatofabushing as seen 'inrFigure 4, the fibrous body 4.9 .uponswelling will close off the auxiliary passageway T6 (Figure '4) and also the passage'between face 22 and the fibrous body l'eading to' the main outlet passage II. A fter'the boiler has been stopped ian'd the system starts "to cool, the fibrous body l9 will start to dry. First it will dry sufficiently to open the auxiliary passage l6 which will permit outside or room air to pass by the threads through the auxiliary passage l6 and around the fibrous members l9 through passageway 20. This will accelerate the drying process of the fibrous body causing the main passageway H to be opened promptly. Ii subject to vacuum, the atmospheric pressure acting on the longitudinal walls of the fibrous body through outlet apertures l I will not act to cause opening of the valve as it starts to dry, whereas pressure acting longitudinally through auxiliary passage It will tend to compress the body and open the valve.

If an adjustment needs to be made so as to insure quicker opening of the auxiliary passageway, the closure member I! may be adjusted in bushing l5 so that it is withdrawn relative to the fibrous body cavity l2 forming a recess in the cavity wall, as can be seen in Figure 3, wherein member I! has been moved outwardly relative to face 22 of bushing IS. The cavity face 2| of member I! defines one wall of a recess into which the fibers of the upper portion of the fibrous body 19 can swell. This is illustrated at IBA (Fi 3) wherein the fibers are iorced" out of their :substantially parallelmelationship to the upper face of-the fibrous body. 'The fibers naturally tend to straighten because :of their resiliency so that as the drying action-starts, these fibers -will spring back toward-the former-straight relationship :and thus-open the auxiliary passageway 16 .to permit airto' flow to passage '20 and thus accelerate the drying actlon o f thefibrous body to open the ma in outlet apertures.

A slightly different arrangement of the-parts of theinventionis illustrated in Figure 2 whereinvalve body has a fibrous body cavity: with main outletapertures zii. In the form illustrated, the outlet apertures are not aligned. Inlet passage It is connected with the fibrous body cavity '21. Bushing 2- isscrew-threadedly engaged in the mouth of valve bocly 23 and may have aclosure *member '28 loosely threaded therein so as .to provide-anauxfliary passage 29 as in Figure-1. The closuremember 2 8 may have a depending post 39 as in the previous form, there being a passageway el between said post and theaperture walls 32 ofthe fibrous body means 33. Fibrous bod-y restraining-or opposed wall 34 of thefibrous body cavity 24 may be undercut so as to provide an annular recess 35 therearound providing'an additional ventilated fiber area. The closure member 28 may be adjusted in the same manner as that described for Figure l, and thedevioe will operate in'a similar manner.

it should be apparent that variations can be made in the construct-ion of' the valve and that the bushing could be pressed into the mouth-of the-valve body 'and'held'in by crimping. Also, the valve body could be made in two parts. Other variations will readily be suggested, all coming within the scope'o'f the invention as set forthin 'the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic air vent valve comprising a valve body,-a main outlet passageway insai'd'body having a cavity therein, main outletmeans connected to said cavity, an inlet passageway "in-said i body connected "to said cavity,'a waterabsorbent ofai-rto-said main'outlet means when subjected to moisture, and an auxiliary outlet passage between =said fibrous body and said main outlet means, said auxiliary passage being controlled by said fibrous body, said auxiliary passag being closeable by said fibrous body when said fibrous body is subjected to moisture and openable to accelerate opening of said main outlet means.

2. An automatic air vent valve comprising a valve body, a main outlet passageway in said body having a cavity therein and a main outlet from said cavity, an inlet passageway connected to said cavity, a restricted auxiliary passage connected with said cavity, and a water absorbent fibrous body in said cavity, said fibrous body normally passing air through said cavity from said inlet passage to said outlet and shutting off said flow when subjected to moisture, said fibrous body closing said auxiliary passage and normally opening said auxiliary passageway before said main outlet.

3. An automatic air vent valve comprising a valve body, a main outlet passageway in said body having a cavity therein and a main outlet from said cavity, an inlet passage in said body connected to said cavity, an auxiliary passage connected to said cavity at a point between said inlet passage and said main outlet, said auxiliary passage terminating in one end wall of said cavity, said end wall having a surface adjustable from a plane surface to a surface having a recess,

and a fibrous body extendable between walls of said cavity when wet closing off said main outlet and said auxiliary passageway, one surface of said fibrous body following said wall of said cavity into said recess, said auxiliary passageway accelerating opening of said fibrous body so as to facilitate opening of said main vent.

4. An automatic air vent valve comprising a valve body, a main outlet passageway in said body having a cavity therein with transverse main outlet means therefrom, an inlet passage having a longitudinally located opening into a transverse restraining wall of said cavity, an auxiliary passage opening into a restraining wall of said cavity opposite said inlet passageway, a Water absorbent fibrous body between said restraining walls, said fibrou body normally passin air from said inlet passage to said main outlet means but when subjected to moisture, closing off both said main outlet and said auxiliary passage, said auxiliary passage upon opening accelerating opening of said fibrous body.

5. An automatic air vent valve comprising a valve body, an outlet passage in said body having a cavity therein with transverse main outlet aperture means connected therewith, an inlet passage having a longitudinally located opening into a transverse wall of said cavity, an annular auxiliary passageway opening into the wall pposite said inlet passageway, a water absorbent fibrous body between said walls, said fibrous body having a longitudinally extending passage therethrough terminating interiorly of said annular auxiliary passageway so that one surface of said fibrous body when wet can close off said annular auxiliary passageway, said fibrous body normally passing air but when subjected to moisture, closing off both said main outlet and said auxiliary passageway, said auxiliary passageway accelerating opening of said fibrous body.

6. An automatic air vent valve comprising a valve body, an outlet passage in said body having a cavity therein with transverse main outlet aperture means connected therewith, an inlet passage having a longitudinally located opening into a transverse wall of said cavity, an auxiliary passageway opening into the wall opposite said inlet passageway, a water absorbent fibrous body composed of a plurality of wafers located between said walls, said wafers having apertures defining a longitudinally extending passage therethrough terminating interiorly of said auxiliary passageway so that one surface of said fibrous body when wet will close 01f said annular auxiliary passageway, said fibrous body normally passing air but when subjected to moisture, closing oif both said main outlet and said auxiliary passageway, said auxiliary passageway accelerating opening of said fibrous body.

7. An automatic air vent valve comprising a valve body, a main outlet passageway in said body having a cavity therein with main outlet aperture means connected to said cavity between end walls thereof, an inlet passage connected to one of said end walls, a screw threaded plug in the opposite end Wall defining an auxiliary annular outlet passage, an apertured water absorbent fibrous body located between said end walls, one face of said fibrous body being adapted to close off said annular outlet passage when subjected to moisture, said auxiliary passage admitting air to said fibrous body so as to assist in opening the passage to the main outlet.

8. An automatic air vent valve comprising a vaive body, a main outlet passageway in said body having a cavity therein with a main outlet aperture means connected to said cavity between end walls thereof, an inlet passage connected to one of said end walls, a screw threaded plug in the opposite end wall defining an auxiliary annular outlet passage, a water absorbent fibrous body located between said end Walls, said fibrous body having an aperture extending therethrough, one face of said fibrous body being adapted to close off said annular outlet passage when subjected to moisture, and a stem depending from said plug through the aperture in said fibrous body, said auxiliary passage accelerating initial opening of the valve.

HAROLD G. HENCKEN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,467,217 Mikeska Apr. 12, 1949 2,601,216 White et a1 June 17, 1952 

